The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-09-06
SIX SCORE BU RNED ALIVE
FRIGHT ENDS IN A JAM IN A BURN
ING THEATRE.


The Corpses of $50 People Already
Removed from the Ruins-All the
Victims Were Occupants of the Gal
leries-Every Actor and Actress Es-
capes.
LONDON, Sept 5.--A theatre at Exeter
took fire this evening during the perform
ance of the ''Romany Rye" The occupants
of the pit, after an awful struggle, escaped,
but many of them were greatly injured.
There was only one exit from the gallery,
and the rush there was terrific. Scores were
trodden under foot and suffocated A fire
escape was brought to window and many
inside were rescued. Sixty corpSeS have
been removed The injured survivors were
sent to hospital, The mortality is esti-
mated at 100.
THE BURNED STRUCTURE.
LONDON, Sept q. pa. M-The structure
burned was the Theatre Royal 1t was built
after the latest designs and was elaborately
fitted, being considered one of the prettiest
in the kingdom. There was 4
full house, and everything was
act, at 1880 O'Clock, when the drop scene
fell, and in a moment the whole stage was
mass of fire. A wild panic ensued. The
occupants of the stalls, pit and dress circle
escaped after dreadful crushing, many being
badly bruised.
THE ACTORS ESCAPE.
The actors md actresses were in their
dressing rooms when the fire began and all
escaped The fire originated iii the flies and
spread RAPIDLY, filing the theatre with dense
smoke. The occupants OF the upper circle
and gallery rushed to the windows scream
ing frantically. Many jumped from win
dows and were injured. Others were rescued
with the aid of ladders from verandas.
ALL THE CITY LIGHTED.
The fire blazed iiercely, lighting the whole
city. People were soon Hooking to the
scene in thousands inquiring for friends
The scene inside the theatre when the fire
broke out was an awful one Some men
unplored the audience to be cool but it was
impossible TO check the frantic rush. The
theatre hose was brought into use in a few
minutes, but the water had little effect on
the flames. The actors and actresses were
taken from windows with the aid of ladders
They lost everything except what they wore
at the time
$50 BODIES RECOVERED.
Up TO the present time $50 bodies have
been recovered. They are almost unrecog-
been taken to the hospitals.
The fire burned throughout the night
The search for bodies proceeds slowly. In
many cases every shred of clothing is
burned off and the bodies look black and
raw
HOW 1T STARTED.
There are various reports as to the origin
of the fire. It is only certain that the flames
| broke out in the scene shifters' department.
| Those who escaped say that a special
| exit was promptly opened. The fire
brigade arrived five minutes after the
breaking out of the flames, but the efforts
of the fremen were without effect. There
| were several thrilling scenes A ma jority
of the victims were men and boys. About
thirty women were burned. ts'-s
ROASTED IN A MASS.
When the fire started the drop scene was
lowered to prevent draught Some of the
actors opened door to escape, causing the
fire to burst through the drop scene and
ignite the gallery. The flames overlook
the people who were wedged in an
immovable mass and roasted them to
death. Many who were rescued alive died
soon after being brought out of the burning
building. The occupants of the dress circle
escaped without serious harm.
UNDER coNTRo.
LONDON, oepu y, D A. MA Telegram
from Exeter at o'clock this morning says
that the fire is under control; only the.walls
of the structure are standing. People dis
tracted with anxiety are wandering about
the streets in the neighborhood
of the theatre in search of
friends who attended last nights
performance. The hospitals are beseged by
anxious inquiries for friends Twenty bad
ly burned persons who were admitted to
hospitals died few moments after they
were rescued.
COMMENTS or THE PRESS
The Standard says that the sad similarity
between the Exeter theatre fire and pre-
vious disasters suggests culpable disregard
of the teachings of experience.
The NeiCS says: at is safe to say that
one effect Of this awful disaster will be a
general law governing the construction
and management Of public places
throughout the kingdom. After this
catastrophe, and that of the Opera Comique
in Paris we ought surely to require no more